Update – 30/06/2020

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities yesterday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 3,390. The death toll from Covid-19 remains at 191, as no fatalities were recorded in the past 24 hours. The number of patients treated in intensive care units stands at 10, while 119 patients have left the intensive care unit.

MEASURES/ RESTRICTIONS

• Movie theaters, casinos and children’s summer camps reopened in Greece on Monday, while concerts, conferences, commercial fairs and artistic events can once again be held, in the latest phase of the country’s easing of lockdown measures. Outdoor summer movie theaters have already been open for several weeks, but this is the first time indoor theaters will be able to operate since the lockdown was imposed in March. As of tomorrow, international flights will be allowed at regional airports across the country once more. Currently tourists can fly into only Athens or the northern city of Thessaloniki.

• Cars and taxis will now be able to carry three passengers instead of one (excluding the driver), according to a new joint ministerial decision issued on Monday. Private cars with up to seven seats will be able to carry three passengers while those with eight or nine seats are allowed to have five (excluding the driver). The same will apply for vans. The use of a face mask is mandatory in taxis for both the driver and the passengers. A 150-euro-fine will be issued to the driver of the vehicle and the passengers in case of a violation. The new rule will apply until July 12, when the measures will be reassessed.

TOURISM/ TRANSPORT

• Direct flights from Britain and Sweden to Greece will not be allowed until July 15, Greek authorities said on Monday, adding that they would use EU guidelines to determine which countries were considered at high risk of spreading the novel coronavirus. While flights from most European destinations will be permitted from July 1, those from the UK and Sweden will not.

• As Greece is opening its gates to international tourism on Wednesday, July 1st, strict health protocols and targeted testings will apply to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Twenty-seven airports across the country will receive passengers from 18 non-EU countries, seven ports and seven land border crossings will open to welcome travellers from all over the world, with the exception of a few countries where the number of coronavirus cases remains threateningly high. The targeted testings will be based on special software that calculates which tourists are more likely to be carriers of Covid-19. The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) is now a key element for travel to Greece.

• The PLF must be filled out by travelers up to 48 hours before leaving for Greece. It is mandatory from June 27 until August 31, 2020. All travelers will be required to fill out the form on their computer or mobile phone and include important data and details, such as their country of origin, which countries they must transit before arriving in Greece, and where they have been in the last 15 days. The passenger information data will be collected in a database and, through analysis, each traveler will receive a special barcode, based on which the Greek authorities will know upon arrival whether that passenger should be tested for Covid-19 or not.

• Greece reopens seven of its 14 border crossings in the north tomorrow, as part of the country’s further reopening to tourists from abroad. The entry points are Evzones, Kakavia, Krystallopigi, Promachonas, Nymfea, Kastanies and Kipi, government spokesman said at a press briefing on Monday. Wednesday is also the day when yachts and other vessels from abroad will be allowed to dock at Greek ports.

• The Greek Tourism Ministry on Friday released the ministerial decision that reveals the locations of the hotels to be used for Covid-19 isolation purposes once Greece opens to tourists on July 1. Until now, some 60 hotels throughout Greece have responded to a tender announced by the ministry and expressed interest to operate as quarantine spots for tourists who may contract the coronavirus while on holiday in the country. The hotels will accommodate mild cases of Covid-19 that do not require hospitalization. According to the ministerial decision, hotels in the regional units of destinations that have a quarantine hotel will not need to keep rooms free for isolation purposes. The decision will take effect once its published in the Government Gazette.

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